Vol 52 No 21 | MALAWISUDAN Brothers-in-arms 21st October 2011 Western governments seem unimpressed by the efforts of Foreign Minister Arthur Peter Mutharika, brother of President Bingu wa Mutharika, to persuade them to restore aid to Malawi. Concern...
Vol 52 No 17 | MALAWI Protests postponed 26th August 2011 Protestors plan to take to the streets again next month if their 20-point list of demands to end economic hardship and democratic restrictions are not met. They postponed...
Vol 52 No 16 | MALAWI The President lashes out 5th August 2011 After killings and detentions by security forces, oppositionists plan another demonstration to press their demands for reform President Bingu wa Mutharika’s shift from egotistical technocrat to violent despot was not entirely surprising, given his style of government over the past six years. Few people believe...
Vol 52 No 13 | MALAWI Only a miracle 24th June 2011 President Bingu wa Mutharika is ploughing ahead with an optimistic ‘zero-deficit’ budget despite the fact that most of the aid that supports 40% of that budget is missing....
Vol 52 No 8 | MALAWI Mutharika cracks down 15th April 2011 The President has always rejected criticism but his reaction to recent dissent could prompt more unrest and damage national finances Fearing a revolt along North African lines, President Bingu wa Mutharika has unleashed a wave of repression and intimidation, prompting further dissent as Western governments respond by cutting...
Vol 52 No 5 | MALAWI A port with no ships 4th March 2011 The presidential dream of a navigable trade route to the sea will need more than a grand opening ceremony to make it a reality Although it opened with much fanfare four months ago, the Nsanje World Inland Port is yet to attract a single ship. President Bingu wa Mutharika hosted the opening ceremony and...
Vol 52 No 4 | MALAWI Pre-emptive policing 18th February 2011 Police swooped on organisers of the ‘Big Bicycle March on the Chronic Fuel Crisis’ just before it set off in Lilongwe on 14 February. The Human Rights Consultative...
Vol 52 No 2 | MALAWI Subsidising politics 21st January 2011 Maize subsidies win votes but the impact on the economy – and on agriculture – is not so healthy Having bucked conventional wisdom on government subsidies to small farmers, President Bingu wa Mutharika staked his election chances on his Farm Input Subsidy Programme in the 2005 and...
Vol 4 (AAC) No 6 | MALAWICHINATAIWAN What the doctor ordered 15th April 2011 The corruption trial of Malawi’s former President Bakili Muluzi at the Blantyre High Court exposes the lack of transparency and good governance in Taiwan’s aid to African countries. Bakili Muluzi,...
Vol 4 (AAC) No 5 | MALAWIASIA Road builders 31st March 2011 Japan and China both want to get their hands on Malawi’s transport infrastructure. The Chinese are building roads, while the Japanese announced in February their US$18 million rehabilitation...